Adults Ask: What Can I Do About Lost Tooth?

Losing or chipping a tooth is no big deal as a child. After all, losing teeth or chipping them are oftentimes seen as badges of courage and valor, particularly when children lose their teeth through sports or horseplay. Even parents would praise children who lose their teeth as this shows they are growing older, with the passage of time being celebrated with the “tooth fairy” who buys the knocked out tooth.

However, the same cannot be said for adult teeth. Adult teeth are permanent – and they are the only teeth you are to have during your lifetime. That being said, most adults would go to such lengths to protect their teeth, particularly when playing sports.

Yet there are instances when accidents happen, and adult teeth does become loose. When that occurs, here are the things you should do:

If you can reattach your tooth
When you lose your tooth, try to find it as soon as possible. Rinse it with water to clean it, and try to put it back into position. Try to put it back into position and bite onto a handkerchief to hold in place. Then, immediately go to your dentist for assistance.If you were able to successfully put your tooth back into place, your dentist will ensure that it is in the right position by giving you an x-ray. Once they determine that it is in the correct position, your tooth would be splint to the teeth on either side of it to hold it into position. The splint should be removed within two weeks.

If you are unable to reattach your tooth
If you are unable to reattach your tooth immediately, then put it into a glass of milk and go to your dentist straight away. The faster it is re-implanted, the more likely it would embed itself into your gum and the lesser problems you would have.Once at the dentist’s, the dentist will numb the area and reposition your tooth. Then, your dentist would give you an x-ray and splinting your tooth.

If you are unable to find the lost tooth
In instances wherein you cannot find your lost tooth, then your dentist would offer you three options.Firstly, dentures. Dentures are removable false teeth that you typically remove at night time to clean or to soak in mixture. Next, bridges, where false teeth are glued to your adult teeth using a special mixture. Finally, there are implants, wherein titanium screws are placed in the jaw bone and false tooth is made from the mold.Of course, there are more into these options than what meets the eye. For instance, there are several kinds and colors of dentures, which would depend upon the current color of your teeth. Furthermore, be transparent with your dentist about your expectations, as these methods have different care methods.

Lastly, these tooth replacements can take a while before you are able to see their full effect, particularly for implants. Dentures may take you a couple of fittings before you are truly comfortable with them, while it can take a few months before a mold is taken from your implants.